Comments on: Greatest Interviews of the 20th Centuryhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century/
Comments on MetaFilter post Greatest Interviews of the 20th CenturyThu, 20 Sep 2007 13:57:31 -0800Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:57:31 -0800en-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60Greatest Interviews of the 20th Centuryhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/greatinterviews">The Greatest Interviews of the 20th Century</a> according to The Guardian. The interviews are with Princess Diana, John Lennon, Marlon Brando, Dennis Potter, Francis Bacon, Marilyn Monroe, Sex Pistols, Malcolm X, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Margaret Thatcher and Fidel Castro. You know who else is interviewed? That's right, Nixon. <small>Oh, and there's a Hitler interview, too. Apparently he likes tea. So do I. Funny ol' world. [via <a href="http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2007/09/lunchblog.html">Neil Gaiman</a>]</small>post:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:50:54 -0800KattullusinterviewsRichardNixonPrincessDianaJohnLennonMarlonBrandoDennisPotterFrancisBaconMarilynMonroeSexPistolsMalcolmXFScottFitzgeraldAdolfHitlerMargaretThatcherFidelCastroBy: ao4047http://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844315
From the Hitler interview: <blockquote>"Hitler today heads the largest party in Germany. Unless Hindenburg assumes <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/greatinterviews/story/0,,2155682,00.html">dictatorial measures, or some unexpected development completely upsets all present calculations</a>, Hitler's party will organise the Reichstag and dominate the government."</blockquote>comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844315Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:57:31 -0800ao4047By: UbuRoivashttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844328
What a fucking rotter.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844328Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:05:57 -0800UbuRoivasBy: itemhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844347
<em><small>"Hitler today heads the largest party in Germany. Unless Hindenburg assumes dictatorial measures, or some unexpected development completely upsets all present calculations, Hitler's party will organise the Reichstag and dominate the government."</small></em></small>
I can't wait to see how this fine piece of political theater turns out.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844347Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:13:30 -0800itemBy: MrMerlothttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844382
I don't get the inclusion of the Sex Pistols. I love the band, but it's a television interview that needs to be seen in that context. If the Guardian wanted to include a great punk rock interview, why not reprint something by the great Nick Kent?comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844382Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:33:56 -0800MrMerlotBy: Ms. Sainthttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844385
Huh. I didn't read the others, but I found the interview with Hitler really interesting. It's so hard to understand how a whole dang <em>country</em> fell in love with that horrible little man, and it's hard to remember that there was a time when his name wasn't associated with millions of deaths. That interview gave some good perspective into what people thought Hitler represented before he had made his name for himself in history.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844385Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:34:34 -0800Ms. SaintBy: salviahttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844393
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/greatinterviews/potter/0,,2154611,00.html">Dennis Potter</a>:<blockquote>We all, we're the one animal that knows that we're going to die, and yet we carry on paying our mortgages, doing our jobs, moving about, behaving as though there's eternity in a sense...</blockquote>comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844393Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:39:23 -0800salviaBy: Steven C. Den Bestehttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844397
Speaking of the Sex Pistols, they're <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=919f7411-823d-4646-b7d4-d2c6f8dfe26c&entry=index&sid=rss_topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories">coming back</a>.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844397Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:41:51 -0800Steven C. Den BesteBy: MrMerlothttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844409
Read the introduction to the Hitler interview and you'll see that a whole dang country didn't fall in love with such a horrible little man. The interview was written on the back of an electoral setback. Saying the whole of Germany loved Hitler is like saying the whole of the US loves Bush.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844409Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:50:43 -0800MrMerlotBy: Jody Tresidderhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844419
Capote on Brando (1957) is almost tabloid gushing - but lovely and fresh for all that.
(Though there's a terrific deadpan jab from Capote about the likely quality of Brando's current literary attempt:
<em>"While he may not care to read fiction, he does desire to write it. The lacquer table was loaded with overfilled ashtrays and piled pages of his most recent creative effort, A Burst of Vermilion, a film script."</em>)comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844419Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:57:24 -0800Jody TresidderBy: signalhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844450
<em>The interviews are with <strong>Princess Diana</strong>,</em>
And that's where they lost me.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844450Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:30:08 -0800signalBy: blacklitehttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844481
<blockquote><small>"Economic imperialism, like military imperialism, depends upon power. There can be no world trade on a large scale without world power. Our people have not learned to think in terms of world power and world trade. However, Germany cannot extend commercially or territorially until she regains what she has lost and until she finds herself."
"The political combinations upon which a united front [with another country] depend," Hitler remarked to me, "are too unstable. They render almost impossible a clearly defined policy. I see everywhere the zigzag course of compromise and concession. Our constructive forces are checked by the tyranny of numbers. We make the mistake of applying arithmetic and the mechanics of the economic world to the living state. We are threatened by ever increasing numbers and ever diminishing ideals. Mere numbers are unimportant."
"Our workers have two souls: one is German, the other is Marxian. We must arouse the German soul. We must uproot the canker of Marxism. Marxism and Germanism are antitheses."</small></blockquote>He was pretty much right, you know. And he got it done. It just, um, results in millions of deaths and a world war, when you want to do things like that.
The American independent economic imperialism was humming along pretty well, too, until Cheney-Rumsfeld torpedoed the idea of a clearly defined policy. Or at least a clearly defined and articulated policy – they never tell anyone else what they're up to.
Nationalism is pretty popular even amongst the "good guys", though. Theodore Roosevelt in 1915: "Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States. We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance." Of course, someone's going to get all crazy about the fact that I'm comparing Roosevelt and Hitler – my point is that a discourse of "lazy commies" and nationalist fervor really can grab the attention of people anywhere. And hey, you only need 50% plus one and a couple of emergencies.
Ahem. Anyway. Good interviews, good post.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844481Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:08:57 -0800blackliteBy: Sparxhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844485
Dammit - I was collecting them. :-(comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844485Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:12:22 -0800SparxBy: Voivodhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844508
Thanks for the link. The Marilyn Monroe interview was well worth the time spent reading.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844508Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:38:26 -0800VoivodBy: DUhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844536
<i>...you'll see that a whole dang country didn't fall in love with such a horrible little man.</i>
Who is the "you" here that thought they did?comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844536Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:08:31 -0800DUBy: mr_robotohttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844555
<b>DU</b> <a href='http://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844536'>writes</a> <em>"Who is the 'you' here that thought they did?"</em>
Ms. Saint <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844385">seemed</a> to be expressing this sentiment.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844555Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:32:21 -0800mr_robotoBy: bluesky43http://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844617
Awesome, the Sex Pistols were #8 on the list.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844617Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:38:08 -0800bluesky43By: mishahttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844632
Mae West was fascinating. And F. Scott Fitzgerald:
"Now the standard cure for one who is sunk is to consider those in actual destitution or physical suffering - this is an all-weather beatitude for gloom in general and fairly salutory daytime advice for every one. But at three o'clock in the morning ... the cure doesn't work - and in a real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning, day after day."comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844632Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:58:45 -0800mishaBy: Alex404http://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844660
Is there such thing as too attracted to Marylin Monroe?comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844660Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:30:21 -0800Alex404By: Riki tikihttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844739
At least Hitler never expectorated on his fans.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844739Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:43:51 -0800Riki tikiBy: vbfghttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844795
<em>I don't get the inclusion of the Sex Pistols. I love the band, but it's a television interview that needs to be seen in that context. If the Guardian wanted to include a great punk rock interview, why not reprint something by the great Nick Kent?</em>
It happens to be one of the most famous TV interviews in British history. At the time it defined them.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844795Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:14:40 -0800vbfgBy: vbfghttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844796
Not that it's a great interview btw. That's pretty much universally acknowledged.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844796Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:16:07 -0800vbfgBy: hyperslothhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844813
I guess Godwin's right out on this thread.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844813Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:10:26 -0800hyperslothBy: Goofyyhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844844
re: nationalism, IMO, in the US, this has been, in the past, a means to unite the various states. These days, it's just the same old flag-waving bullshit used to monger up some war.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844844Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:52:02 -0800GoofyyBy: hadjiboyhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844845
(thankyou for this)comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844845Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:12:58 -0800hadjiboyBy: stackmonsterhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844896
many thanks. youve officially killed whatever spare time i might have had left for my weekend.
oh, and kudos for any that i can listen to instead of read because im on a tight knittingforawedding (tm) deadline. heh.
thanks.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844896Fri, 21 Sep 2007 06:13:37 -0800stackmonsterBy: Geezum Crowehttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844932
If anyone's in too much of a hurry here are the diamonds:
Brando (a great piece of writing, done <em>entirely from memory</em>. Brando is already going a bit nuts.)
F. Scott (a great man staring into the abyss.)
Castro (more like an adventure story than an interview. It's amazing how far he took his vision)
Hitler (because you rarely hear Hitler in his own words)
Lennon (I don't even like the Beatles but this is great. He tears apart their legacy in a very bitchy way.)comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844932Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:13:37 -0800Geezum CroweBy: Myeralhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844943
<em>Castro</em>
That's my favourite so far. Just incredible to compare <em>then </em>to <em>now</em>comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844943Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:27:51 -0800MyeralBy: mckenneyhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1844953
God, that F. Scott Fitzgerald interview is amazing. Great post.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1844953Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:39:34 -0800mckenneyBy: vbfghttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1845035
F Scott Fitzgerald really needed a hug, didn't he?comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1845035Fri, 21 Sep 2007 08:35:30 -0800vbfgBy: 1f2frfbfhttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1845092
<strong>Mae West</strong>: Do you know my idea of a wonderful time? Sex and chop suey.
<strong>interviewer</strong>:Together?
<strong>Mae West</strong>:No. The chop suey tastes better after.
They just don't make 'em like Mae any more...comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1845092Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:25:30 -08001f2frfbfBy: dejah420http://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1845500
I love Mae West so very much.
<em>
Mae on soft skin: "I always use baby oil. But the secret is it has to be warm, and you have to have a man put it on you - all over."</em>
<em>
Mae on sex with and without love: Honey, sex with love is the greatest thing in life. But sex without love - that's not so bad either. </em>
The first time I ever saw her play Diamond Lil, I swore that one day, I'd grow up and have that swagger, charm and wit. I'm not sure I ever made it, but damn...it's been fun trying. Heh. She really was an incredibly powerful woman to have an an idol. She knew what she wanted, and she reached out and took it. Bless her heart, I just love her.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1845500Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:04:13 -0800dejah420By: juiceCakehttp://www.metafilter.com/64893/Greatest-Interviews-of-the-20th-Century#1845930
Very nice. I'm a huge Dennis Potter fan. The Singing Detective remains on of my favourite productions ever.
From Dennis Potter:
<em>
I call my cancer, the main one, the pancreas one, I call it Rupert, so I can get close to it, because the man Murdoch is the one who, if I had the time - in fact I've got too much writing to do and I haven't got the energy - but I would shoot the bugger if I could. There is no one person more responsible for the pollution of what was already a fairly polluted press, and the pollution of the British press is an important part of the pollution of British political life.</em>
Not much has changed.comment:www.metafilter.com,2007:site.64893-1845930Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:57:09 -0800juiceCake